Challenge Island Plano and Highland Park/North Dallas
Challenge Island Plano and Highland Park/North Dallas, 4514 Cole Ave Suite 600, Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75205
About
Challenge Island Plano and Highland Park/North Dallas offers onsite field trips, afterschool enrichment, summer camps, and family engagement programs that include specific options such as Slimetopia STEAM Camp, Girl Scout Workshops, and Challenge Island Book Series Programs. The program also runs birthday parties, Parent Engagement STEAM Night events, sports-themed field trips, and a STEM activity focused on the Model-T assembly line.
• Ages: 4–14 years old
Challenge Island Plano and Highland Park/North Dallas operates from a storefront in North Dallas and offers both face-to-face and virtual program options. Its programs are described as screen free, with no screens or digital devices used in after-school classes, camps, or family nights, and kids work together in STEAM Teams using low-tech supplies. The program features a whimsical island ambience with cross-curricular themes and uses project-based learning with collaborative, inquiry-based, student-driven learning grounded in real world connections, with a stated focus on 21st century skills such as creativity, collaboration, communication, flexibility, leadership, social-emotional learning, and resilience. Slimetopia STEAM Camp is described as “Where Slime and STEAM Activate.”
Challenge Island is described as the World's #1 STEAM Program and the World's #1 STEM/STEAM Program, and as providing award-winning onsite field trips, afterschool enrichment, summer camps, and family engagement programs. It is found in 20,000 schools and organizations and has received multiple Parents Picks Awards and other industry recognitions. Challenge Island is ranked on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 and has been listed for five years running, including on Top Global Franchises, Fastest Growing Franchises, Top Low Cost Franchises, and Top Mobile Franchises.
The local leadership is provided by Tia Sukenik, who began her journey with Challenge Island in February 2017. Tia has been working with children for over 30 years in the Dallas area, beginning her teaching career in 1992 in Austin, Texas, then teaching in DISD after moving to Dallas in 1994. Her experience includes roles as a Gymboree teacher, preschool teacher, Destination Imagination volunteer, after school teacher in her children’s preschool, preschool director, and Director of Camp Gan Israel in Plano, Texas. Tia has worked with countless schools and organizations, bringing Challenge Island to children across the Plano/Dallas area.
Parent, educator, and media feedback describes the program in several ways. One parent comment states that “Getting a spot in Challenge Island afterschool classes is harder than getting tickets to Taylor Swift.” A head of school describes the onsite field trips as “brilliant and a pleasure to watch” and expresses interest in giving a 5-star review. Entrepreneur Magazine notes that Challenge Island after-school classes, camps, and family nights use no screens or digital devices and instead have kids working together in STEAM Teams with low-tech supplies. A school principal reports that students worked together on a STEAM project, overcame obstacles, and practiced problem solving skills, and mentions that many students especially liked being in colored teams with matching bandanas and face paint. A Parent and Family Engagement Specialist describes a Parent Engagement STEAM Night as “beyond fun and engaging” and plans to extend Challenge Island Family STEAM Night events to more students in the district. A public librarian reports “very happy kids” and “resoundingly positive” feedback from kids and parents. A recreation center director notes that campers “always love their time doing Challenge Island challenges” and that staff feedback about Challenge Island has been positive. A 4th grade teacher reports that students had a great experience with a STEM activity for the Model-T Assembly line set up in the gym.
Last updated January 29, 2026.
• Ages: 4–14 years old
Challenge Island Plano and Highland Park/North Dallas operates from a storefront in North Dallas and offers both face-to-face and virtual program options. Its programs are described as screen free, with no screens or digital devices used in after-school classes, camps, or family nights, and kids work together in STEAM Teams using low-tech supplies. The program features a whimsical island ambience with cross-curricular themes and uses project-based learning with collaborative, inquiry-based, student-driven learning grounded in real world connections, with a stated focus on 21st century skills such as creativity, collaboration, communication, flexibility, leadership, social-emotional learning, and resilience. Slimetopia STEAM Camp is described as “Where Slime and STEAM Activate.”
Challenge Island is described as the World's #1 STEAM Program and the World's #1 STEM/STEAM Program, and as providing award-winning onsite field trips, afterschool enrichment, summer camps, and family engagement programs. It is found in 20,000 schools and organizations and has received multiple Parents Picks Awards and other industry recognitions. Challenge Island is ranked on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 and has been listed for five years running, including on Top Global Franchises, Fastest Growing Franchises, Top Low Cost Franchises, and Top Mobile Franchises.
The local leadership is provided by Tia Sukenik, who began her journey with Challenge Island in February 2017. Tia has been working with children for over 30 years in the Dallas area, beginning her teaching career in 1992 in Austin, Texas, then teaching in DISD after moving to Dallas in 1994. Her experience includes roles as a Gymboree teacher, preschool teacher, Destination Imagination volunteer, after school teacher in her children’s preschool, preschool director, and Director of Camp Gan Israel in Plano, Texas. Tia has worked with countless schools and organizations, bringing Challenge Island to children across the Plano/Dallas area.
Parent, educator, and media feedback describes the program in several ways. One parent comment states that “Getting a spot in Challenge Island afterschool classes is harder than getting tickets to Taylor Swift.” A head of school describes the onsite field trips as “brilliant and a pleasure to watch” and expresses interest in giving a 5-star review. Entrepreneur Magazine notes that Challenge Island after-school classes, camps, and family nights use no screens or digital devices and instead have kids working together in STEAM Teams with low-tech supplies. A school principal reports that students worked together on a STEAM project, overcame obstacles, and practiced problem solving skills, and mentions that many students especially liked being in colored teams with matching bandanas and face paint. A Parent and Family Engagement Specialist describes a Parent Engagement STEAM Night as “beyond fun and engaging” and plans to extend Challenge Island Family STEAM Night events to more students in the district. A public librarian reports “very happy kids” and “resoundingly positive” feedback from kids and parents. A recreation center director notes that campers “always love their time doing Challenge Island challenges” and that staff feedback about Challenge Island has been positive. A 4th grade teacher reports that students had a great experience with a STEM activity for the Model-T Assembly line set up in the gym.
Last updated January 29, 2026.
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